You'll Know the Difference When You Wear a Pima Cotton Shirt

May 11, 2018

As spring turns to summer, we’re always on the
hunt for clothing that looks great, wears well, and helps us stay comfortable
all season long. When it comes to the best fabrics, it’s tough to beat pima
cotton. Check out our tips for incorporating soft, breathable, and durable pima
cotton into your summer wardrobe.

What is Pima Cotton?

Cotton actually comes from two different species
of plants. The most common type is Upland cotton, which makes up nearly 90% of
all cotton produced around the world. The remaining 10% is made up of two
higher-quality cottons — Egyptian cotton and pima cotton, which are both “extra-long
staple” cotton. These longer, silkier individual cotton fibers create a premium
fabric that is both luxuriously soft and incredibly strong. While Egyptian
cotton, when
it’s authentic, is a premium fabric from the Nile River Valley, pima
cotton has a decidedly American story.

What Makes Pima Cotton Shirts Great?

When you think of what you love about your
favorite shirt, comfort, style, and durability likely come to mind. For the
perfect summer shirt, one fabric is the clear winner – cotton. Cotton is
breathable, absorbent, and versatile, making it the original, all-natural
performance material and helping you stay cool when temperatures rise. Pima
cotton is the highest quality cotton available, thanks to those long, silky
fibers. This means that pima cotton t-shirts, dress shirts, or polo shirts will
not only be some of the most comfortable items in your closet, they’ll be
softer, stronger, and more colorfast too. Pima cotton resists fading and
pilling and is easy to maintain – because who has time for hand-washing when
there’s summer fun to be had?

How to Shop for Pima Cotton Shirts

We’re used to checking out shirt labels for brands, sizes, and even country
of origin. But it’s often easy to overlook fabric. Taking a moment
to fully read all the labeling on the tag or packaging can help you be sure
you’re getting a high-quality product. Cotton labeling can be confusing, and
unscrupulous producers may try to blend different cottons to pass it off as a
superior fabric. If you want to be sure you’re getting the best, familiarize
yourself with FTC
regulations, which are straightforward enough for the average consumer to understand. In short,
it’s important that you look for more detail than just “100% cotton” and choose
companies you trust who make their commitment to sustainable, transparent
sourcing clear and verifiable. As a producer of verified pure
pima cotton, we’re fans of all the companies who work to make it
easier for consumers to find clearly labeled, high-quality goods. With just a
little bit of extra legwork, you can stock your wardrobe with pima cotton
shirts that are sure to become your summer go-to’s in no time.